Apply for insurance plates for small vehicles
For operation on public roads, the following motor vehicles only require an operating permit and an insurance license plate:
- Mopeds, such as mopeds and mopeds, which have no more than 50 cm3 cubic capacity and do not travel faster than 45 km/h.
- Electric bicycles with pedal assistance at speeds above 25 km/h or pedal-independent motor assistance above 6 km/h up to a maximum of 45 km/h.
- Segways and similar mobility aids with electric drive and a maximum speed of up to 20 km/h.
- Quads and trikes with a maximum speed of max. 45 km/h determined by the design and a cubic capacity of max. 50 cm3.
- E-scooters that have an operating licence and a maximum speed of 45 km/h.
- Motorised invalid carriages
- Mopeds and mopeds from GDR production with a maximum speed of up to 60 km/h, which were already insured before 01.03.1992.
The insurance number plate proves that a motor vehicle liability insurance exists for the respective motor vehicle in the corresponding insurance year.
The insurance number plate is issued directly by the motor insurers. It is valid for one insurance year from 01 March to the end of February of the following year.
The insurance number plate consists of a plate with a unique identification number, the traffic year and the sign of the responsible association of motor insurers. If no association is responsible, the plate bears the sign of the insurer.
Details
Prerequisite
The vehicle complies with the construction and operating regulations and there is a motor vehicle liability insurance in accordance with the compulsory insurance law.
Procedure
The owner concludes an insurance contract with a domestic insurance company authorised to operate motor vehicle liability insurance. After conclusion of the contract and payment of the insurance premium, the insurer shall provide the holder with the insurance number plate together with a corresponding certificate for the respective traffic year.
For storage in the Central Vehicle Register of the Federal Motor Transport Authority, the applicant shall provide the insurer with his or her keeper data, details of the vehicle class, type of bodywork and make of the vehicle, as well as the vehicle identification number, and provide proof of these on request.
Deadlines
The insurance number plate and the certificate lose their validity at the end of the traffic year.
The driver must carry the insurance plate certificate with him and hand it over to the responsible persons for inspection on request.
Required documents
- Keeper data
- details of the vehicle category, type of bodywork and make of the vehicle, as well as the vehicle identification number
Costs
Insurance premium
Miscellaneous
The insurance company has taken out liability insurance against the owner and the driver to cover personal injury, damage to property and other financial losses caused by the use of the vehicle when the vehicle is used on public roads or places (§ 1 of the Road Traffic Act).
The policyholder may also be liable to pay compensation to third parties if the vehicle did not comply with the construction and operating regulations of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations or was driven by an unauthorised driver or by a driver without the prescribed driving licence. In these cases, the insurer is not obliged to pay benefits to the policyholder.
Anyone who uses or permits the use of a vehicle on public roads or places even though the liability insurance policy required under the Compulsory Insurance Act does not exist or no longer exists for the vehicle is liable to a custodial sentence not exceeding one year or to a monetary penalty.
Legal basis
Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung (FZV)
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Bundesverkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 17.04.2025